Women & Theatre want to recruit volunteers to work on our Moving On project summer and autumn 2021.
THE PROJECT:
MOVING ON
Women & Theatre, in partnership with Birmingham Children’s Trust and Birmingham City Council, are currently running a 2-year project with care experienced young people. The project aims to utilise the ideas, experiences and expertise of care leavers in Birmingham to produce new creative work such as theatre productions, short films, podcasts and workshops. Audiences will include relevant professionals and policymakers, children in care, other care leavers as well as wider audiences.
Developed from research, the creative work produced aims to make a positive difference. It is informing developments to services and support for care leavers and helping children in care to think about their options and choices.
There are different opportunities for Care Leavers to get involved in a range of ways, supporting areas of project management, event planning, research, marketing, workshop facilitation, devising new theatre and film, music making, evaluation and more.
Project Team
The volunteers will work alongside W&T’s Artistic Director Janice Connolly; Lead Artist Practitioner Jo Gleave; Project Coordinator Katie Webster, and freelance poet Ty’rone Haughton. Our established creative process means participants will be empowered and supported to develop skills and create their own work, validating their own ideas and abilities.
The Role:
As we enter the next stage of development in the project we are after Volunteers to be involved in planning, supporting and evaluating the Moving On sessions, and facilitating activities in person and on Zoom, supported by W&T team and freelance artists.
Volunteers will be involved in regular sessions, being an active part of the group and supporting the young people (aged 18-25) in all aspects of the project. Working with a diverse group with varied needs, volunteers will need to be responsive and adaptable to work in different ways. The role may also include helping to create scripts and creative elements of the project; generally assisting the rest of the team in rehearsals, and participating in session debriefs.
What we need:
We need someone who is kind, committed, hard-working, flexible, organised and good at working in a team. Ideally, volunteers will have an understanding of creative work and some experience working with young people with varied needs. It would be useful if they have an understanding of working on Zoom but we can support them with this.
What you’ll get out of it:
Volunteers will develop new skills and experience from working creatively over zoom with a diverse group of young people with varied needs and abilities. It will be a creative and enjoyable experience for all involved.
Dates:
Sat 17 July: Full Day Devising Sessions@ Carrs Lane Church Centre, Carrs Lane, Birmingham B4 7SX
Wed 21 July: Wednesday group Zoom 1 (planning from 5.30, session 6.30-8.30)
Sat 31 July: Trip to see Homegirl @ Derby Theatre– starts @ 2.30pm but we will be travelling together from Birmingham & having lunch in Derby with the YP
Wed 4 August: Wednesday group Zoom 2
Sat 14 August: In Person – e.g. site visit of theatre venue – daytime for 2.5 hours
Wed 18 August: Wednesday group Zoom 3
Sat 28 August: In Person – daytime for 2.5 hours – TBC
Wed 1 September: Wednesday group Zoom 4
Sat 11 September: In Person – daytime for 2.5 hours – TBC
Wed 15 September: Wednesday group Zoom 5 (last Zoom of this block)
Sat 25 September: In Person – something social & art-related – seeing a show, or gallery
If you are unavailable for these dates but are interested in the project, please do get in touch as there will future opportunities to volunteer on the project over the next 2 years.
How to get involved:
If you are interested in volunteering, please send a short email to Jess Pearson, General Manager at jesspearson@womenandtheatre.co.uk, stating why you are interested, and any relevant experience. You may alternatively submit a short video or voice recording.
We will invite potential volunteers to an informal interview, which will take place online. Please get in touch if you require additional information or support, either by emailing jesspearson@womenandtheatre.co.uk, or call 07956 773 196.
Deadline: Monday 19 July 2021
Women & Theatre welcomes interest from all sections of the community. We are particularly keen to increase the diversity of our team and welcome applications from people of non-white British backgrounds and disabled people. We also welcome applications from people with care experience.
